THROMBOSIS

Thrombosis

•      The process of abnormal thrombus (blood clot) formation within the vessel.

•      It can occur in an uninjured vessel or after a relatively minor vessel injury leading to the vascular occlusion

Thrombosis – predisposing factors

•      Endothelial injury

–    E.g. myocardial infarction

•      Abnormal blood flow- turbulent blood flow or stasis

–    Hypertension (turbulent flow)

–    Atrial fibrillation (abnormal arrhymthic atrial contraction leading to stasis)

•      Hypercoagulability (altered blood coagulation pathways with increased tendency for thrombosis)

–    Surgery, burns, cancer

Types of thrombi

According to the site of origin:

•      Cardiac thrombi

•      Arterial thrombi

•      Venous thrombi

•      Cardiac valves thrombi

•      Capillaries thrombi